Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1887-02-05
Eet.crs rro,.. the people.

EDITOR ENTEEPRTsE.-1 am. glad to
see that the farmers are at last awaken
ing TO the Importance of uniting and CO.
operating to protect themselves from
monopoIies, corporations and middle
men who arc all at work to enslayc and
impoverish the farming class through
out our country. And think that the
farmers of .Accomac have madea step
forward in organizing Truckers and
Fruit Growers Association in our coun-
ty. For while this association aims to
advance and build up the great trucking
and fruit growing business On the Pen
insula, yet one Of the fundamental Oh
iects of the organization is TO protect
themselves from imposition Of common
carriers and middle-men. While almost
every corporation, trade and calling have
organized for its own protection and self
preservation, why is it that the farm
els as a class have been comparatively
indifferent and idle III this respect? And
while all other enterprises are growing
and booming with prosperity, why is it
orr farmers are losing ground every
year and being more and more impover-
ishc1? The experience Of the farmers
of 4Accomac the Fast two years is sug-
gestive. Although blessed with boun-
tiful seasons and abundant crops, the
staple product Of our county has been
marketed at a dead loss to the producer.
so that we often hear the remark, ''that
the more sweet potatoes farmer raises
the decperhe gets in debt. And when
we attempt TO investigate the condition
under which orr farmers now market
their trucks we are not surprised at the
result. Take for instance the grower
of sweet potatoes, and this the staple
crop Of our county. We will commence
with the digging of the crop and follow
it through all its commercial route
among the middle-men until it finally
reaches the consumer.
III the first place, the farmer when he
digs his potatoes and takes them to the
station Or shipping point first pays q
drummer 8 per cent. on tile gross
amount of sales "just to tell him who to
consign his potatoes to-" Ifhe ships to
the New Y ork market which is the prin-
cipal market for our sweet potatoes, he
pays 40 cents per barrel freight and %
cents for the use of the barrel, and fl
nally q percentage to the consignee for
selling. Now if we calculate on basis
Of 81. so per barrel in New York. which
was the average price obtained last sea-
son, we will reach the following re-
suit viz freight 40 cents, barrel and COW
CT 25 cents and commission at Spcr cent
- cents. total expense II cents-leav-
ing a balance for the shipper of 10 cents
per barrel OF about one half the cost Of
production. But let us follow the po-
tatoes little further, among the mid
die-men. In the first place the cnmmis-
sion merchant accounts to the shipper
at what is termed "the wholesale price
for that day." which is 81 80 per barrel,
he then sells them to the market man or
retail dealer at an advance of % cents
per barrel costing the market man S1.75
and lastly, the market man sells them
to the consumer at 25 cents per peck
land never lower, and as the barrel con-
tains bushels and he sells the empty
barrel at 20 cents, he realizes s. go or a
clear profit of S1.45 per barrel. So that
while the consumer pays at the rate of
So per barrel for the potatoes, the pro-
ducer for AL his labor and expense, only
realizes 70 cents. Now l ask is it any
wonder that The farmers of tile Eastern
Shore are oppressed with debt and are
growing poorer every year in growing
sweet potatoes, when they calmly sub
nit to such rapacity at the hands of the
middle men? Farmers Of Accomac,
assert your strength: AID 10y combined